Lobbying for a moratorium on marine phosphate mining

In collaboration with WWF-SA, the RFA funded the development of a strategy to tackle the harmful practice of bulk marine sediment mining of the ocean floor. The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is implementing the strategy and has established the Safeguard our Seabed Coalition (SOSC).

Image courtesy of Nautical Minerals

SOSC believes that a moratorium on bulk marine sediment mining should be established until, at a minimum, appropriate impact studies have been conducted, and a strategic environmental assessment has been concluded so that the knock-on effects of seabed mining on established and renewable industries, such as fisheries and tourism, are known.

Attached below are the three CER fact sheets for more information on marine mining environmental impacts as well as the following report papers:

Valuing the socio-economic contribution of the fisheries and other marine uses in South Africa

Brief overview of potential ecosystem impacts of marine phosphate mining in the Western Cape, South Africa

Assessing the desirability of marine phosphate mining amongst strategies for a sustainable supply of phosphates